This is a perfect example of the software development dilemma. The reality is that it takes longer to write the book than to develop the code. There are many reasons for this but the primary reason is the fallacy that writing code is more important than writing books. You see this every day. Software development houses staff dozens of phone lines with often marginally technical staff to troubleshoot the same problems over and over because documentation for the product does not exist or is totally inadequate.
Historically, software was written from previously-defined specifications. This meant that the code and the books could be developed in parallel. Now extreme programming is the modus operandi. This is where you send a bunch of coders into room to create a product that is released through multiple iterations over a period of time. Nobody really knows how it is going to work until the product is shipped. The users do most of the trouble-shooting. Early adopters live at the bleeding-edge of the technology. The book, if any is actually created, isn't started until the prototype is finished. If you have the time and patience to debug prototype code, download the latest iteration. Otherwise, sit back and wait to see if the new prototype has enough compelling features to warrant an upgrade, and then only upgrade after you have taken the time to test it in a non-production environment to assure it meets your needs. Just because software development houses can get away with shipping multiple iterations of prototype code doesn't mean that you have to deploy prototype code to your user community. By all means save the source packages for all previous iterations. That way you can always back out of an upgrade that doesn't meet muster. Remember, the difference between a prototype and a product is a comprehensive book. -curt -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike.Schatzberg Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 9:07 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [WS_FTP Forum] host.domain.top David's easily understood example is a sample of what's sorely missing from Ipswitch documentation. The manuals should easily be twice their size if they contained the proper number of examples of how to utilize the options described in the text. I have always used trial and error and then stuffed my results into the manuals in place of the missing examples. Mike Schatzberg The Clearing House [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: David Knapp [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 9:50 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [WS_FTP Forum] host.domain.top Here is an example of our setup that may help explain the [EMAIL PROTECTED] issue: My earlier list: Domain: IP address: ------------------------------------- Mydomain.com 55.44.44.567 Otherdomain.com $virtual sub.mydomain.com $virtual Domain 1: Host: mydomain.com (55.44.44.567) Users: harry(pwd: harr1) How they would setup their ftp client: Host: mydomain.com Username: harry Password: harr1 Domain 2: Host: otherdomain.com ($virtual) Users: janet(pwd:jan1) How they would setup their ftp client: Host: otherdomain.com Username: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Password: jan1 Domain 3: Host: sub.mydomain.com ($virtual) Users: frank(pwd: fran1) How they would setup their ftp client: Host: sub.mydomain.com Username: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Password: fran1 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Plug99 Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 6:42 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [WS_FTP Forum] host.domain.top Lorne No, this is *not* already known. Very helpful indeed. At last its getting my head round the whole thing. I am not clear on the 'then the users would just FTP to domain1.TLD (name would resolve to IP) and then sign on using the "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" to ensure they are directed to the proper FTP Server Virtual Host.' part. This seems to me to indicate *two* stages of the client logging in. The first stage is all the info that he can put in the ftp-client 'log in form', typically ; ------ HostName/Addres URL or IP User ID Password Account Path to Initial Remote Site Folder Comment (on some clients) ------- I can't see where the user then gets the opportunity to 'sign on using the [EMAIL PROTECTED]' I'm using WS_FTP vers 3.14 - Do later versions have provision for this 'second stage' sign on ?? (I know in my bones that this is a foolish question and that I've misunderstood what you've said ) Many Thanks Dave ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lorne Ludwig" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 12:34 AM Subject: RE: [WS_FTP Forum] host.domain.top > Dave, > > I'm guessing that you have setup WS_FTP with several virtual hosts. So your > "user" sign on for each FTP Server would be "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" to get > the user to the correct virtual FTP Host. A sign on that was just "username" > would only access the Main (First) FTP Server. The FTP Server Virtual Hosts > can be "host.domain.top" style but they could also just be a name (if you > have 4 Domains all on the same server you might name them domain1.TLD > domain2.TLD domain3.TLD and domain4.TLD so that the "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" > is meaningful to you and your users) > > If these were also hosted on the same web server and the existing "A" > records for domain1.TLD domain2.TLD domain3.TLD and domain4.TLD point to the > same IP address that you will be doing FTP to/from then the users would just > FTP to domain1.TLD (name would resolve to IP) and then sign on using the > "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" to ensure they are directed to the proper FTP Server > Virtual Host. > > I don't know if I'm helping or just covering ground you already know? > > Lorne > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Plug99 > Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 3:50 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [WS_FTP Forum] host.domain.top > > > Thanks Lorne > > My 4 different URL's are lodged with an ISP (at no charge-great people) with > the 'A' records in their DNS all pointing to my one static IP address. (my > web server has its own vhosts (virtual hosts) file which sends traffic to > the correct site according to which URL was used) Although I can access an > interface to the DNS records via their web form, there is no provision for > me to put a 'host' prefix in front of my full registered URL i.e bloggs.com. > Is it essential that the 'host' prefix goes in the 'A' record? > If so then I'll ask my ISP > Assuming I can put 'dave' in front i.e. dave.bloggs.com won't this mean that > all users must access bloggs.com via dave.bloggs.com. > Would user 'fred' have to access fred.dave.bloggs.com and Anonymous as > Anonymous.dave.bloggs.com ?? > Sorry about this - you can see how confused I am. > Many thanks > > Dave Plub > > > Well, > > > > In your case "host.domain.top" could be "dave.bloggs.com" > or > > "ftpserver.bloggs.com" or whatever you want the "Host" > part to be. In order > > for your users to find the server there would need to be > an "A" Record on > > the Authoritative DNS Servers for your domain pointing > from the > > "host.domain.top" to the correct IP Address. > > > > Is this helpful at all? Do you need more info or detail? > > > > Lorne > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > Plug99 > > Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 1:41 PM > > To: WSFTP_Forum > > Subject: [WS_FTP Forum] host.domain.top > > > > Could someone clarify the definition of 'host.domain.top' > > please. > > > > I am new to NT/win2000 but am happily running a 4-virtual > host web server on > > it at present (with 4 URL's directed to my one static IP > address). > > > > Am having great difficulty with all aspects of getting > WS_FTP working > > smoothly, even with one single 'host' and just using my IP > address - > > somtimes it works but right now it's stopped - due to my > own cock-up I > > guess. I am experimenting by going round in circles, and > we all know where > > that method ends up! > > > > Right now I'm on the 'host.domain.top' bit. > > > > To set up a new host I am instructed to "complete desired > hostname for this > > host, which must be in the form 'host.domain.top' " Assuming that my > > URL is 'bloggs.com' and my machine is > named 'dave' and my > > IP is 123.456.789.001, what should my 'host.domain.top' > look like please? > > > > What would be usefull to us newbies is a few examples of > server setups plus > > a few of client setups. > > This might sound childish but it would save a lot of > permutated > > experimenting with combinations of paths, permissions, > virtual hosts, > > aliases etc. etc (and guessing what 'top' means). > > > > All this should be simple stuff but Ipswitch have made > sure that it isn't. > > The kindest thing I can say about their pdf Manual is it > seems to be written > > by experts for experts - but I'm not so sure that that's > true. > > The carrot that is keeping me going is that it promises to > be such a great > > prog - If I can ever get it working smoothly. > > > > A liitle help would be greatly appreciated. > > > > Many thanks > > > > Dave Plug > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- > > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > > Version: 6.0.678 / Virus Database: 440 - Release Date: 06/05/04 > > > > > > Please visit > http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html > > to be removed from this list. > > > > > > An Archive of this list is available at: > > > http://www.mail-archive.com/wsftp_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Please visit > http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html > > to be removed from this list. > > > > > > An Archive of this list is available at: > > > http://www.mail-archive.com/wsftp_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.678 / Virus Database: 440 - Release Date: > 06/05/04 > > > Please visit http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html > to be removed from this list. > > > An Archive of this list is available at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/wsftp_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ > > > > > > > Please visit http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html > to be removed from this list. > > > An Archive of this list is available at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/wsftp_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. 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